Motocycle Purchase

[dazzler]

Hi

Not sure if there are many bike people on the forums but here goes.

Am going to buy a new sports road bike for commuting 20k or so to work, scratching on the weekend, day trips and looking cool at the cafe (at least I'm honest :p).

These are the three that I like thus far and are all similarly priced (BMW a little higher as usual).

BMW R1200S (photo 1)

Ducati Supersport 1000 DS (photo 2)

Buell Firebolt XB12R (photo 3)

Any one have experience on these or any other suggestions.

And theres a poll as well!

cheers

dazzler

[Wongo]

Get a Triton mate. Not quite the same but hey you know you want on.:p

[snowyskiesau]

Go with the Ducati. It's red so must be faster than the other two.

[DavidG]

I have a Honda Transalp. Dual purpose (Road / trail)

Bit smaller at 650cc but good fuel economy.
A fairly wide torque band make for easy riding in most conditions.
http://www.hondamotorcycles.com.au/wps/wcm/resources/file/eb35ef4f1e48e1b/Transalp_06_Intro-Image.gif

[Article99]

If I were forced to choose from the above list, it'd be the Duke.
Why? Only pussies and coppers ride beamers, thats why.

Now, in the ideal world, you'd not be wasting so much money and would better spend it on a GSX-1000, pneumatic shift kit, full suspension rework, yoshimura pipe and a decent set of steering dampeners....

...surely I can't be the only one here with a death wish....? :U

[Daddles]

If you have to ask, you don't deserve a decent bike and should buy the Buell :D

Richard

the above has been an uninformed comment based on an earnest desire to stir the pot :roll:

[boban]

I've got an SV1000 and I use it for commuting. If I was completely honest, the easiest bike to ride for commuting would be a scooter. But I would rather chop my nuts off than be seen riding one.

Of the three, I reckon the BMW will be easiest to ride, but as for 'cool' then, to me, its the least appealling.

I dont know how much experience you have with commuting but in Sydney, any sportsbike gets a bit tedious. The stopping and starting is a pain. Might be different in Port so that may not be consideration. If not, I would be riding the Ducati.

[Buzzer]

Go the Beamer!!

[dazzler]

If you have to ask, you don't deserve a decent bike and should buy the Buell :D

Richard

the above has been an uninformed comment based on an earnest desire to stir the pot :roll:

Dont they sound coool!

:2tsup:

[Grunt]

I'd go the Beamer too. A guy at work had a duke and it's quality control was typically Italian.

[goat]

also with the duke the amount of servicing will break you $$$,have ya thought about a jap bike? there are some very cool ones that can do quite high kms , i just clocked over 65000kms on my suzuki 1200 bandit and it's going strong and with minimal service costs

[Squirrel]

If I had the cash and I was going to replay my bike (ZZR600), I would definitely go the Duke...

Squirrel...

[watson]

:no:G'day,
At 64 I reckon you may have hit mid-life stuff.
Buy a Corolla and we'll all be safe............

[rsser]

Bit hard to give views unless you specify your criteria. Service and repair costs can't be an issue if you're wanting to buy in this class.

Buell durability and reliability are poor, and the parts really cost.

Dukes have loads of character, which is a euphemism for moments of excitement between servicing and repairs.

The 1200S has had some good reviews. It has good power apparently and the gearbox introduced on the 1200GS. It's not as nimble as a Jap litre sportbike however.

All depends on what roads you ride and how you want to ride them.

I ride a Fireblade when the license is current ;-} Last bike was a Sprint ST - that had loads of character.

[Grunt]

Breaking down on a bike is no fun. Dukes break down.

[Dan]

Dukes have loads of character, which is a euphemism for moments of excitement between servicing and repairs.



Breaking down on a bike is no fun. Dukes break down.

Back in the eighties some of this may have been true but modern Dukes, in my experience, don't break down.

[Daddles]

Modern Ducatis are Jap bikes in disguise.
Buells are just Harley's in disguise ... and Harley's these days are Jap bikes in disguise.
At least the Bimmer is what it pretends to be ... but having 'retired' to a Bimmer, I can assure you they are a bike you 'retire' to.

Buy yourself an SR500 and be done with it :D

Richard

hey, it fits his criteria - all he's said is he wants a bike with appeal that sounds nice. SR500 fits that bill ... when the buggers start

[Daddles]

For heaven's sake Dazzler, you've suggested three bikes that offer no practical, real world advantages over a hoard of cheaper, Japanese bikes. You don't buy any of those three by being rational. So take them all for a test dribble, and ride if you can manage it, and buy the one you fall in love with. It gets no more complicated than that.

Richard

and I still reckon an SR500 has a lot going for it :wink:

[fred.n]

Go for the Buell......in red:D

[Harry72]

Bah dont bother with the bike... buy a felder!

[dazzler]

Bah dont bother with the bike... buy a felder!

I'll look pretty silly sitting on a FELDER at the coffee shop :p

[Daddles]

I'll look pretty silly sitting on a FELDER at the coffee shop :p

Not if you scatter some shavings around on the floor :D

Richard

but buy it in red :doh:

[Bob38S]

Buy whichever you pleases you the most

However,

Have enough $$$$$ left over for the best leathers, gloves, helmet and boots you can afford.

-- bear in mind that "silver" is not the easiest colour to see - at dusk, in rain etc - running with your lights on does not protect you from the sides.

Regard everyone else on the road as as having a moronic compulsion of trying to turn you into a bonnet ornament or making you kiss the bitumen at speed.

You have reminded me of - 1971 my Yamaha and I parted company when a Valiant Charger side-swiped me into the table drain. Not a pretty sight.

[Shedhand]

Dont they sound coool!

:2tsup:G'day mate. I was up at Orford the other day and a bunch of Ulysses bikers were having coffee at the waterfront cafe near the bridge. Now I've always hankered after a bike so I had a gecko at 'em. The standout was a Buell. Beee ewdiful. and when they left....the sound of the Buell....beeee...ewdiful. My pick. :2tsup:

[pawnhead]

Get a Triton mate. Not quite the same but hey you know you want on.:p
http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=41041I've got one of those except it's leg powered, but it comes with the optional accessories on the back : -

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/holgerdanske/th_Mar01710.jpg (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/holgerdanske/Mar01710.jpg)

Great for picking up hardware and groceries, and 'Rosco' (Jack Russell terrier) loves it.

A funny thing happened to me yesterday when Rosco fell off the back,,,

[Felder]

Bah dont bother with the bike... buy a felder!
:2tsup:

I'll look pretty silly sitting on a FELDER at the coffee shop :p

Not in my eyes...... :sleez:

[NCArcher]

Sure the Felder will make a mess of a lump of wood in no time and you would probably be the only one to turn up at the coffee shop on one and the Beemer is beautifully engineered and reliable and all that sort of thing but nothing compares to the sound of a big Ducati in full flight. Go the Ducati.:2tsup:
There's a very good reason why Buell and Boat Anchor both start with 'B':p

[Clinton1]

Just get a 1973 Kawasaki Z900 and a dog.

Your life will then be complete.

[TassieKiwi]

BMW = exellence in engineering, quality and longevity.

Ducati= some of the above, but not 100%

Buell = no idea mate.

Why don't you buy a Kombi?:p YOu could have coffee in it.http://www.woodworkforums.com/images/icons/icon3.gif

If you're serious, then money isn't an issue. Ride them all. Go away, have a beer fishing or something. Buy the one that you want, damn the expense.

If I had the cash, Id go Beemer. Saw a trio at Bicheno - verrrry toothsome indeed. I also fancy a mint R100RS. You could make a statement with a KZ1300, but don't drop it!

BTW don't buy black leather and black helmet, for crissake.

[HappyHammer]

Oi Dazzler which coffee shop are you gonna be posing in.....I'll take a piccy and post it....

HH.

[Wongo]

BMW = exellence in engineering, quality and longevity.

Ducati= some of the above, but not 100%


What the hell's that mean? :?

50% exellence in engineering, quality and longevity ??

:D

[Shedhand]

My brother once owned a Duke 750 or thereabouts. It was a beast. Everytime he hit a bump the wiring loom shorted somewhere. One day in town (he was a motorcycle cop back then) while off duty he was parked opposite the hospital and trying to kick start it. It just wouldn't. He spat the dummy big time and threw it down on the road and a metro bus ran over it. Cried for a month. :C

[Big Shed]

Does it really matter which brand of bike you buy?

The all come with a free membership to the same club, The Temporary Australians:D

[dazzler]

Hey

thanks thus far.

:aerobics:Good Dazzler says BMW

Super reliable, shaft drive, great resale even with huge k's and smooth as. Plus I've clocked up over 210,000ks on the K's so know the beasties.:D

:realbighug:Romantic Dazzler says DUCATI

Italian style, V twin sound, handling handling handling, cafe cred :wink:

:bns:Bad Dazzler says BUELL

Oh that engine, oh that frame, oh the exclusivity.....:D

cheers


ps. Shedhand, seeing as you are in a buying frenzy grab a Buell and I'll see u at elephant pass pancakes in June :2tsup:

[dazzler]

Does it really matter which brand of bike you buy?

The all come with a free membership to the same club, The Temporary Australians:D

Only if you ride with your head up your :bartmoon: :wink:

[corbs]

The pic below is my bike of preference:2tsup:. Once wanted one that was propelled by a motor, but I came off one of my racers at 75kmh (its dead now :(). That was without a motor pushing me and not an experience I am keen to repeat (doesnt stop me looking for big hills to go down though).

Corbs

[boban]

Today I rode next to a K1200S and must say it was the first time I heard a Beamer sound good. It had a sports pipe and I was surprised to say the least. Must say it was a nice bike. I still prefer the roar of a V-twin, its just part of the experience IMHO.

Go for lots of test rides and see which bike feels right for you.

[dunnp]

Depends on why you want a bike doesn't it? If you want something modern & reliable, buy Japanese. If you want something quirky, get the BM. If you want to show off, get the Duc. If you are a nutter, get the ugly yank thing with the tractor engine & rubber band drive. :)

[dazzler]

Depends on why you want a bike doesn't it? If you want something modern & reliable, buy Japanese. If you want something quirky, get the BM. If you want to show off, get the Duc. If you are a nutter, get the ugly yank thing with the tractor engine & rubber band drive. :)


GOLD! :2tsup:

[Stringy]

Shaft drive, reliable, quirky, caffe pose value = Moto Guzzi Sport 1100injected:2tsup:.

Spent a couple of hours on a mates Ducati ST2 a couple of weeks ago, they are stable (don't want to change line mid corner:(), have linear power delivery:(, he had a 620 Monster before this one which was really chuckable:D, no reliability issues at all but the valves MUST be serviced by someone who knows what they are doing.

Newest BM I have ridden was an 80's R80, back in the 80's. Would not buy a new one - BORING.

If you happen accross a Guzzi Daytona RS:p, in RS condition, as this is the only way I could afford one, give me a call.

Currently I'll keep pottering:wink: around on my UJM, 01 Suzuki Bandit 1200.

[Dan]

no reliability issues at all but the valves MUST be serviced by someone who knows what they are doing.

But you could say that about valve adjustments on just about any motor. There's heaps of info around and it basically comes down to being able to use feeler gauges and a micrometer. Definitely not rocket science.

[dazzler]

But you could say that about valve adjustments on just about any motor. There's heaps of info around and it basically comes down to being able to use feeler gauges and a micrometer. Definately not rocket science.


The old duke motors were a bit tricky. not sure about the new ones :?